Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

Izzy Taylor

Biography

British rider Izzy Taylor (35) who is based near Bicester in Oxfordshire is one of the UK’s busiest riders and at the end of 2018 was BE’s highest ranked lady rider in second place; she is currently 12th in the FEI World rider ranking.

Last year with Badminton entry Call Me Maggie May Izzy was 11th at Pau – the horse’s first four-star – and the pair won the CCI3* at Tattersalls. It will be the first five-star for Springpower who was 8th in the CCI3* at Boekelo. Last year at Osberton Izzy won both the CCI1* (Harley Rebel) and CCI2* (Conguistador) classes. In 2016 with Allercombe Ellie she was eighth at Badminton. The pair was selected for the British team for the Rio Olympic Games but shortly before travelling was unable to go due to injury to Ellie.

Izzy comes from an equestrian family and started riding early. Her Grandmother Jane Whiteley was second at Badminton, her great aunt Anneli Drummond Hay won both Badminton and Burghley and her mother represented GB at Junior and Young Rider levels. Although offered a place at University to study Sports Science, Izzy decided on horses and eventing. She first worked for Hartpury College and breeders Sam and Linda Barr and then spent time in Holland to train with her aunt, Anneli Drummond Hay, where she had the opportunity to work for Swiss Olympic show jumper Markus Fuchs. She recovered from serious injury from a fall in 2003 to win team silver and individual bronze in the 2004 European Young Rider Championships. She was then based for two years at the Opposition Stud during which time she was second at Windsor International and third at the Young Rider Championships. In 2006 Izzy set up her own yard.

In 2008 Izzy took the ride on Briarlands Matilda when her former rider Tristram Owers broke his leg. In 2011 with Matilda, Izzy made her Badminton debut and in 2012 was seventh in their first appearance at Burghley – Izzy received the prize for the highest placed ‘Burghley first-timer’ while Matilda won the prize for the highest placed British-bred mare. In 2013 with Matilda, she was a member of the British squad for the European Championships in Malmo – Izzy’s first senior appearance for GB.

In 2014 she was the only rider to complete Badminton on two horses, Briarlands Matilda 17th & Thistledown Popski 18th. In 2015 with Briarlands Matilda, she was an individual member of the squad that contested the European Championships at Blair Castle, finishing in 6th place. In 2016 at the July meeting of the Goodwood Festival Izzy won the Magnolia Cup – a celebrity ladies race in aid of charity – presented to her by Darcy Bussell. In 2017 with Perfect Stranger she won the CCI3* at Millstreet. She was also the winner of the World six-year-old young horse championship (Monkeying Around) and over the year won 7 CIC3* classes including Belton and at Bramham.

Izzy is mother to two children; Lily (10) and Freddie (8) and enjoys hunting with the Bicester and Waddon Chase.

Springpower is a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. He is by the thoroughbred Power Blade out of a mare by the thoroughbred Caesar Imperator. He was found by his owners in Ireland as a four-year-old and was formerly ridden by Jodie Amos to two-star level. Izzy acquired the ride in 2017. In 2018 he was second in the CIC3* 8/9 year old class at Blenheim and 8th in the CCIO3* at Boekelo. Badminton 2018 will the first at the level.

Call Me Maggie May is a 12-year-old Dutch-bred mare. She is by Hamar out of a mare by Hemmingway. She was acquired by owner Tom Strong as a three-year-old and ridden by him at one-star level. Izzy took the ride in 2014.